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44 Comments
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Bob T
I’ve used AVG, and ClamAV. Now I’m using MS Security Essentials on my Windows Box. I also use Sandboxie and turn off the Adobe PDF plugin to the browsers.
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crazy rat
get a mac
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Burty0
Not for long – please don’t get complacent as Macs are now being targeted as Windows based machines are proving more difficult to get into along with Macs being much more popular because of this misconception.
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Antavi
Actually, this is no misconception and a Mac is safer in many ways by design – not just simply because hackers ignore it. Actually they don’t, that would be silly of them given how many business and personal Macs there are out there. Windows has vulnerabilities that perhaps W8 will address, but until then a Mac is safer for sound technical reasons. Sorry, it just is, and I use both platforms professionally. I use antivirus on a Mac, though, because you never know.
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I think it’s important to point out that Windows has made massive strides in recent years. It’s partly down to better user education, and I’m sure free security programs have helped as well. Better browser security has been important, too.
As for Macs vs. Windows RE: security it’s long and well worn argument. All I’d say is that as a general rule Macs are safer by design, but far from infallible. I use the free Sophos program on my Mac, but only normally use it when I’m on a public netbook (i.e. hotspot).
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Mary
See: http://www.macworld.com/article/132733/2008/03/hack.html
At this sort of event the Mac is regularly compromised before the Windows PC. -
James
Lewis*Another* Nasty Mac Trojan Detected
mashable.com/2012/04/16/another-mac-trojan/
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Anthony
KayeI’ve used ESET NOD 32 antivirus for 5 yrs. now. Works out at app £50 for 3 yrs. Updated at least daily & comes with firewall. Virtually instant virus alert and quarantine.Has never let me down yet!
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Laurie
I’m another satisfied ESET user. I’ve used it on two machines for several years now, and it always seems to catch the nasties.
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Smithy
I’m another Eset (Smart Security 5) user with use covering the past 2 years. Mainly choose it for it using low resources for gaming. Even though it hasn’t caught anything on my PC/notebook it does warn me about modified program files, even those 100% safe I’ve updated/patched. very reassuring. I also use Malwarebytes Anti-malware – more important these days for piece of mind; plus the free and excellent CCleaner to delete temporary files. Sounds crazy the software you need but they do run on a schedule.
I had installed MS Essentials on my friends PC because he doesn’t know much about PCs, something simple to keep running without much user input.
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Philip
GatterI switched from an annual McAfee account to Microsoft Essentials at the suggestion of my computer engineer, and I’m perfectly happy with it – as you say, you just need to turn on the firewall when you get the message that your computer may not be protected.
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john
A lot of paid for software is CPU hungry and causes instability else where, they r not worth the time. I used avg free until the ms essentials came out as It’s better & does not have so many annoying popups
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SueO
Both our computers fell victim to viruses whilst using McAfee – now using Avast and Malwarebytes. Both recommended by the engineer that sorted out our problems and they seem fine, with regular updates. Have also downloaded the extra layer of cover offered free by my bank – Trusteer Rapport – which keeps an eye on any website where a password is entered.
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Pennorth
I use ZoneAlarm Extreme Security Suite and have found it very reliable, although I do get a very few rubbish emails getting through. I’d love Which? to test it. Not enough users, apparently.
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Martin
SchererAVG Free version. Better than Norton in my experience.
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patricia
lovegroveI use AVG and pay for it. I used to have the free AVG but on the paid for one it covers a bit more security.
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Richard
HoodI do this sort of thing for a living. I see it every day. A lot of paid for suites are a sure way to degrade your system performance particularly on older PCs, McAfee and Norton being the worst. MSE’s simple ‘traffic light’ system is ideal for the vast majority of domestic PCs. It doesn’t noticably degrade performance either. It also doesn’t ask highly technical questions that most users would not know the answer to. It is a ‘must’ to employ a firewall in conjunction with it, for most domestic PCs the Windows firewall should be adequate.
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David
MunroeAgree totally on Norton and McAfee. Over-priced for what they deliver. Most freeware mentioned here works better with a lower “footprint” take-up on RAM.
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Jim
PantingI have used AVG free for years also Spybot search and Destroy,Ccleaner Open Office and Defraggle. All are free . The Open Office is a replacement for MS Office .
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Ian
I’ve had MS Security Essentials for the last couple of years, recommended by my computer engineer who had been trialling it on one of his own computers for a year, then used it on all of his computers. I’m delighted with it.
Prior to that, for years I’d paid for Norton, having aggravation with the renewal website every year, which kept trying to sell me more than I needed. (I believed that by paying for protection I would get a better product than the freeware that was available.) The last year that I used Norton, I received a email renewal reminder about a month before it expired, and duly renewed it on a very convincing replica of Norton’s website that stole my £30. I tried to report this scam to Norton, but I gave up – it seemed impossible to contact Norton (based in Ireland) unless you are sending them money. I only realised I’d been scammed when Norton’s genuine renewal email arrived a couple of weeks later. I did not suspect the scam because I knew that the protection was about to expire, therefore I was expecting the renewal email when it arrived. I suppose it is possible that Norton billed me twice. -
MunroeI used “avast avanti! free” for a while but have now gone for the Professional version. I also use SpyBot and Malaware. Would never go back to Norton or McAfee, the RAM memory footprint is much too big for the poor performance against avast.
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Malcolm
BrownI have to agree with Pennorth, I also use ZoneAlarm Extreme Security Suite and have found it very reliable. In fact Zonelarm was a ‘best buy’ once so I am surprised it is still not in the tests.
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davemet
I mainly use free security software and the only application that I have purchased is Superanti-spyware which cost around £12 for a lifetime licence several years ago, which I consider to be very good value for money. This has saved me from one or two very nasty spyware infections.
I also use Microsoft Security Essentials and Online Armour firewall. Although Microsoft Security Essentials Uses the Windows Firewall this is pretty useless and virtually unconfigurable, resulting in other computers being unable to share files or the printer on the main PC. This problem was solved by using the Online Armour Firewall.
On my laptop I have dual boot – windows XP and Linux Ubuntu. The advantage with Linux is that it does not require anti-spyware or antivirus software and the difference it makes has to be seen to be believed. When using the same programme in Windows and Linux – for example the Google Chromium web browser, which is available for both operating systems, you realise how much all this security software slows down your computer. If you are running Windows 7, Microsoft’s latest bloatware, the difference in speed of opening and browsing the Internet will be even more apparent.
Unfortunately I cannot do without Windows because some of the applications I use are only written for Windows. However, for those who only use a PC for surfing the Internet and writing e-mails, a Linux operating system is well worth trying and of course it has the major advantage of being free as well as secure and stable.
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Bechet
After using paid for suites for a few years I moved over to AVG Free Antivirus, Superantispyware and Comodo Firewall which seem to keep me safe and don’t slow the system down.
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vic
QuaglieniI have used a combination of MSE and Malwarebytes successfully for some years. The only problem I have found with Security Essentials is its occasional failures when set to automatically update daily. However, this is easy to overcome by checking each day to see if it has updated and then by forcing an update on the days it has “forgotten”. I have also found that Malwarebytes is unfailingly reliable at discovering and removing malware that other suites have failed to find. Unfortunately the free version requires “manual” updating.
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traveller
The worrying thing to come out of the Poll is the 3% who use no Securty Software at all. Don’t they know they are a danger to us all by being open for use as a haven for the Hackers?
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Heidi
What would you recommend for a Mac
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Gary
Heidi – I’ve been in IT support for many years, with plenty of those years specifically doing Mac IT support – in addition to having been a Mac owner myself for nearly 20 years. Sophos released the home edition of their product for free a couple of years back and I’ve been using it since then. By and large, I’ve not had any problems with it and am happy to recommend it. (My only niggle is that you can’t defer the download of the latest updates and – on my slow internet connection – that’s sometimes inconvenient when it kicks in if I’ve not been on for a few days and the download size has built up. But that’s really about it.)
“Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition”
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Hmmm: the URL – which I provided for your convenience – was striped off there. Let me try again, but paste it slightly differently…
http://www.sophos.com/en-us/products/free-tools/sophos-antivirus-for-mac-home-edition.aspx
If it still doesn’t come out this time, search for the quoted text in my previous comment – that should take you pretty much straight to their door for the product’s main page.
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Sheri
I can’t help laughing at those who say they use MSE or AVG or other free security software but admit that various anti-spyware programs have still found and deleted spyware! Because when a security program works properly, you don’t GET problems with spyware.
And actually, Norton was a resource hog in the past but I started using it again in 2011 and I haven’t found it to be slowing my system down at all. AND it includes an excellent password safe too! I will definitely be buying NIS 2012 – from Amazon because it’s cheaper than buying it nor an upgrade from Symantec!
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LewisSheri – you can use the free AV plus free anti-spyware (as most of the free AVs only concentrate on certain types of malware) and get great protection – it’s certainly better than being ripped off year after year by the commerical boys to renew your licence all the time! I haven’t had a problem in years….
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Paul
BainesDoes Which ever test the A/V from the broadband provider? I use the one from Virgin.
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We haven’t in the past, but it’s a good suggestion. What does Virgin provide? I assume it’s a known brand, as opposed to its own concoction, or a white-labelled version of someone else’s software.
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James
I’ve lost count of the number of clients who thought they were fully protected by AVG free version, but they weren’t, and their systems were multi-infected. Changed them all over to Avast, and cleaned up the systems.
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Mike
Have used Kaspersky 2011 and currently 2012 with no problems
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Patrick
I use Norton which isn’t as a bad for slowing performance as it was in the past.I’m using it on an old laptop just now with no discernible slowing.
It pays to shop around though. I got 3 licenses for Norton Internet Security for £15 from Tesco – usual price at least 50% more. -
David
I use Microsoft Security Essentials but recently installed McAffee as it was free with my BT Broadband. But much more important to keep my PC running well is running Advanced SystemCare v5 [there is a free version, I paid for the advanced version] and regularly cleaning the PC to sort all the crashes and temp or log files that build up. Using the smart Defrag to defrag the hard drive also seems to help quite a lot. Other good free software if Malabytes Anti-Malwatr
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Simon
If you bank with Barclays you get 3 licences for Kaspersky for PC’s and mobile phone completely free.
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john
A.V.G, Avast, Malware bytes,Spybot,Ccleaner, Microsoft Essentials, yet 20 years on and we still don’t have a simple one click method of stopping junk mail, especially now that all companies want your email address.
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John Young
I have used Kaspersky for many years and find the latest ( 2012 ) far easier and less resource demanding than previous issues. Added to which I now get this free from my banking internet provider (Barclays) which I suppose gives added assurance if I ever had any problems in that area.
I know you get cover for 3 machines and your phone on this scheme but I must admit to running M/Soft Security Essentials on our netbook ( windows XP o/s ) as Kaspersky seemed a bit demanding. Whilst we do not use this for anything particularly confidential, to date, touch wood, we have had no problems -
Snowdin
I see AV-Comparatives, an independent non-profit non promotional organisation based in Austria makes Kaspersky 2012 makes Kaspersky the best product of the year based on serial testing of major products throughout the year. KIS was the only product to score Advanced Plus in every feature tested. Bullguard was not included. Bearing in mind ?Which found MSE the better anti-viral product and scored MSE at 84% versus KIS 58% it would be interesting to know why and where such significant differences occurred in the two methods of testing.
Over many years I’ve had single anti-virus failures with Avira, Norton and very recently with Kaspersky when I was in the sandbox “safe run for websites mode” so nothing is ever going to be infallible. Malwarebytes picked up one spyware not picked up by KIS. -
Roger-Mari
eI’ve used both Microsoft Security Essentials and Malware Bytes for some time now and am impressed with both. Malware Bytes is an excellent company when you need help with a security problem. Nothing is too much trouble and they don’t stop helping until they’ve solved the problem.
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David
SaundersI have always usd Norton but two weeks ago received a message that my licence had been revoked. An hour of online “support” advised me that I had been sold a stolen key. This is despite my having purchased it via the on line support facility accessed via their product 15 months ago and having had subsequent on line support to install it on another machine. I was made to feel like a criminal by the person that I was dealing with.
There is obviously a security problem at Norton for which they accept no responsibility and I am nearly £100 out of pocket (I purchased a two year 3 machine licence) although they did offer a reduction on buying a new Key. Since this was how I purchased the current one, I was not tempted and thanks to the Which report will be installing Microsoft Security Essentials. I would caution others with regard to Norton.
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batbox
I have used AVAST for many years on all my Windows PCs and have never had a problem that it hasn’t dealt with quickly and effectively. I pay for the Pro version (though the free one is just as effective) because it is just a few pounds each year and such a great product deserves support.
On my MacBook Pro I have never bothered installing an antivirus program, preferring not to take hit on performance as the risk of getting any Mac malware is very small. But I do make sure that Time Machine backs up to my a drive on my Windows desktop PC. That way in the very unlikely event that I have a problem I can reinstall a new version of the OS and do a full restore to a earlier configuration.
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Which is the best security software: free or paid-for?
In the latest issue of Which? Computing (January 2012) we have the lab results of the best security software for keeping your computer safe. Surprisingly, we found that free software can hold its own against paid-for suites.
It’s more important than ever to protect yourself while you’re online. But that shouldn’t mean having to pay through the nose for security software suites that require you to pay out all over again every 12 months.
In a thorough test of security software, Which? Computing found that Microsoft’s own free Security Essentials software more than held its own against paid-for software suites:
Microsoft Security Essentials held its own in our tests against paid-for security software
The downside to working with a free programme like Security Essentials is you have to separately ensure that Windows Firewall is running – paid-for suites will often run firewalls themselves.
What is your own approach to antivirus programs?
Do you think it is worth paying for them? Do you have a good or bad experience with any particular security software?
Still having problems? For more easy to understand computing tips, take out a free trial to Which? Computing magazine and get free access to the dedicated problem solving team on the Which? Computing Helpdesk.
Do you use free or paid-for security software?
Total Voters: 2,238
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